A scheme to help Greater Manchester’s ‘most vulnerable’ rough sleepers has had to be halted to new entrants due to ‘unprecedented’ demand.

More than 500 people have signed up to the scheme - which is funded by £1.8 million of government money.

As a result the service is now seeking more funding to expand.

The service reached capacity three months sooner than bosses at Greater Manchester Combined Authority had anticipated.

Around 300 referrals were expected and bosses estimated a high drop out rate - but that didn’t happen.

Instead more than 500 people from across the region’s ten boroughs have been referred into the scheme since the end of last year. As a result more than 60 people have already secured accommodation so far.

More than 500 people have signed up to the scheme - which is funded by £1.8 million of government money. (Image: Manchester Evening News)

It was initially estimated that the £1.8m SIB contract would support around 100 people to get off the streets over three years.

But, because of the scale of demand, the authority has had to ‘pause’ referrals to the scheme.

The combined authority may now go back to the government and other potential funders to ask for more cash to extend the programme further.

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says the massive oversubscription to the scheme - designed to help people to turn their lives around - shows just how successful it has been.

“This service is designed to help the most vulnerable, most entrenched rough sleepers,” he said. “And the good news is it’s working. People are engaged, the uptake is high, and the retention rates are excellent – which is unusual for services like this and shows just how well it is helping people turn their lives around for the better.

“What this success means is that the service has reached capacity much quicker than had been anticipated and it’s now full – in fact, it’s oversubscribed.

Because of the scale of demand, the authority has had to ‘pause’ referrals to the scheme.

“We’d been expecting about 300 referrals, but we’ve had more than 500. More than 60 people have already secured accommodation. We’re now liaising with Government and other sources with a view to finding more funding to grow the programme.”

The ‘Social Impact Bond’ is part of Mr Burnham’s promise to end rough sleeping in Manchester.

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The combined authority last year agreed the partnership between social landlords to find homes for rough sleepers with specialist support in place and then help them with health, training and emotional support.

Housing partners find the accommodation and are then recompensed if they can prove that they have successfully housed an individual.